Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” makes YouTube history with one billion views… decades later.
Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” came out in 1991, 14 years before YouTube launched. The nine-minute video has made YouTube history by not only breaking the one billion views mark, but being the oldest video to do so.
In 2017, Guns N’ Roses toured South America. This tour garnered a lot of attention, ultimately driving fans to watch the music video. According to YouTube, 83% of the “November Rain” views in 2018 came from outside the United States. Brazil has brought in 69 million views and Mexico has brought in 66 million.
In addition to the YouTube landmark for “November Rain,” Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” is nearing 700 million YouTube views, making it the most-viewed music video of the 80s.
There are a few videos that have shattered the one billion views mark on YouTube.
There are currently 46 other music videos that have broken the one billion views mark. But unlike “November Rain,” they have all been released in the past decade.
It’s not easy to break one billion streams, though it’s becoming more common these days. PSY’s infamous “Gangnam Style” became the first artist to break one billion views, which forced YouTube change their view counter after the video hit 2,147,483,647.
Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again” took over a few years after. The most recent billion-plus record-smasher was Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito.” Justin Bieber, Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers, Drake, Adele, and Fifth Harmony are among the other artists in the “Billion View Club.”
If you’re looking to get into this difficult group, then you’ll have to look past the barriers. According to Business Insider, “More and more today it seems if you want a viral hit, you’re going to have to reach beyond your immediate culture.” The aforementioned hits have proven that.
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